Sara Takanashi won the first of four FIS Ski Jumping World Cup Ladies in Japan.
The local hero could stay in front of Ema Klinec and Daniela Iraschko-Stolz with jumps of 97,0 and 98,0 metres, resulting in 265,6 points.
Takanashi: “I am so happy, that I could win at home and also very satisfied with my performance. This victory is so important for me.”
It was Ema Klinc´s first podium with jumps of 93,0 and 95,0 metres, overall 241,3 points. The Slovene:” I was so surprised by the positive conditions in Sapporo. The wind was no big problem today. I am happy with my performance and I know that I could jump a little bit better.”
Daniela Iraschko-Stolz gained her second podium this year with jumps of 93, and 91,5 metres and 234,5 points. The overall World Cup winner: “The result makes me happy, but I still have not reached my best form. At the moment it feels like there is chewing gum under my feet. My favorite jumping hills are still coming and I hope I can get closer to Sara then.” Chiara Hölzl with 92,0 and 89,5 metres, resulting 232,1 points and Jaqueline Seifriedsberger completed a strong Austria performance. Seifriedsberger finished 5th with jumps of 91,0 and 93,0 metres and 229,3 points.
Best German was Katherina Althaus, finishing sixth with 216, 5 points. Her team mate and World Champion Carina Vogt experienced a moment of shock in the first run. She hit the jumping hill with her head, but did not suffer any serious injuries.
Irina Avvakumova finished seventh with 215,2 points, which is her best result in this season so far. Maren Lundby could improve in the final round to 215,0 points and from place 21 to 8.
Spela Rogelj (214,7 points) and Yuki Ito (213,2 points) completed the top ten. The Slovenian team could celebrate a strong team performance, thanks to Ursa Bogataj and Maja Vtic, who finished 11th and 12th. The Canadian Taylor Henrich finished 13th. Juliane Seyffarth was followed by the Fin Julia Kykkänen in place 15. Elena Runggaldier was best Italian with place 18 and Tara Geraghty-Moats best US-American finishing 21st. Coline Mattel and Lea Lemare gained points for France with finishing 23rd and 30th. Daniela Haralambie finished 24th and could also gain points in the fourth competition of the season.
The second individual competition starts on Sunday, 3 am (CET).
Source: fis-ski.com
